About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Los Angeles International (LAX) to Licenciado Benito Juarez International (MEX)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Los Angeles to Mexico City. Left side is slightly better overall. While right wins at takeoff for the LA coastline, left side captures the dramatic volcanic approach into Mexico City, which is the more memorable view of the flight. During cruise the route passes over Baja California and the Mexican interior, where left side also gets slightly better angles on the Sierra Madre Occidental terrain.
What can I see during takeoff from Los Angeles International in Los Angeles?
During takeoff from Los Angeles International (LAX), sit on the Right side for the best views. LAX typically departs westward over the ocean on runways 24L/24R, then turns south. Right side gives you the Santa Monica Bay coastline curving south toward Palos Verdes Peninsula, then the LA basin sprawl as you climb out. Left side faces open Pacific with little to see. Notable sights include: Santa Monica Bay, Palos Verdes Peninsula, Long Beach Harbor, the LA basin grid stretching inland toward the San Gabriel Mountains.
What can I see when landing at Licenciado Benito Juarez International in Mexico City?
When landing at Licenciado Benito Juarez International (MEX), sit on the Left side for the best views. Mexico City's airport sits east of the city center, and aircraft typically approach from the north or east on runway 05L/05R heading southwest. Left side gives you the best view of the Valley of Mexico, Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl volcanoes to the southeast, and the dense urban sprawl of CDMX spreading across the basin. Notable sights include: Popocatepetl volcano, Iztaccihuatl volcano, Lake Texcoco remnant (Lago Nabor Carrillo), Mexico City urban basin.
How long is the flight from Los Angeles to Mexico City?
The flight from Los Angeles International (LAX) to Licenciado Benito Juarez International (MEX) takes Approximately 3 hours 30 minutes.
What does the Los Angeles to Mexico City flight path pass over?
After departing LA, the route tracks southeast over the Pacific briefly before crossing the Baja California Peninsula — a narrow, rugged, arid spine of mountains visible below. The flight then crosses the Gulf of California, a narrow blue channel separating Baja from mainland Mexico. Over mainland Mexico, the Sierra Madre Occidental range runs parallel to the coast with deeply eroded canyons. As you approach Mexico City, the terrain rises into the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, with the Valley of Mexico basin surrounded by volcanic peaks becoming visible on descent.